Butte College Receives $250,000 Grant For Building Makerspace Community

Butte College has been awarded a $250,000 CCC Maker Grant, renewable for a second year, from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Butte College was one of 24 colleges to receive a CCC Maker grant to create an inclusive makerspace community, provide internships, and develop curriculum to prepare students with innovation and entrepreneurial skills to thrive in the regional economy.

“Makerspaces allow students, staff, and faculty to interact with those who have shared interests and develops their knowledge through hands on learning and experiences outside of the classroom which provides a unique experience,” said Virginia Guleff, Butte College Vice President of Instruction. “The Butte College Create Space will be instrumental in enhancing the student experience, developing connections with industry partners, and securing real world work experiences for our students.”

As part of the CCC Maker initiative grant, Butte College will be developing a creative space at its main campus which will be located at the main campus in the Arts building.

“We will be purchasing new technology and maker-specific equipment, and the Create Space will expand into the community in the second year,” said Daniel Donnelly, Butte College Chair, Digital Art & Design Department, and also one of two full-time faculty leading the makerspace project. “This is a really exciting opportunity for our students and the community. As a result of the CCC Maker Grant, our college will develop an innovative education model and our students will be better prepared to work in our regional economy. Butte College has identified ecosystem partners, created a design thinking process to plan a makerspace, conducted student activities to access student interest and engaged faculty across campus for the CCC Maker Initiative. ”

The vision of the statewide initiative is to drive innovation in education and prepare California Community College students for success in STEM/STEAM careers that demand 21st Century skills.

Through the CCC Maker initiative, colleges engage with businesses in new ways, students are inspired by learning by doing, career skills are incorporated into education, students develop interests in emerging technologies and community colleges contribute to a thriving statewide economy. The Create Space will be available to tour at Butte College’s 50th anniversary community celebration on Saturday, September 16, from 9:30 to 2 p.m.